CSM Olimpia Salonta was founded in 1911 as
Nagyszalontai SC – in
Romanian:
CS Salonta – when
Transylvania was still part of
Austria-Hungary. Over the years, the team from the second city of Bihor County had several names like:
SC,
CS,
CSM,
Steaua Roşie,
Metalul,
Stăruința,
Recolta or
Olimpia, but regardless of the name, the club has become a regular presence of the 3rd and 4th league. The best period in the history of the club was in the 60's and 70's, when Olimpia, named at that time as
Steaua Roșie,
Metalul and mostly
Recolta played for 17 consecutive seasons in the
Liga III. In the 80's the team had an oscillating route, traveling between
Liga III and
Liga IV, but at the end of the 1984–85,
Recolta obtained the best result in its long history, 2nd place in the
Liga III at only 4 points behind Înfrățirea Oradea. In 1988
Recolta relegated again in
Liga IV, being the subject of a rebranding process, the team name was changed in
Olimpia and the colours were changed also, from green and yellow to white and blue. In the 90's the team had some isolated appearances in the
Liga III, but with no important performances. At the end of the
2003–04 season the team promoted back to
Liga III after four years, but the team was disbanded due to the foundation of
Liberty Salonta, club owned by
Romanian businessman Marius Vizer, who also bought the stadium for 99 years and a place directly in
Liga II from
CSM Medgidia. Vizer built a strong football academy and modernized the stadium managing then the best period in the history of the football from
Salonta, including a promotion to
Liga I at the end of
2005–06 season, but
Liberty never played there, after the place was sold to
UTA Arad.
Olimpia Salonta was refounded in 2004 as
CSM Olimpia Salonta and the colours were changed again, this time in white and red, inspired by the city's coat of arms, which has also become the logo of the club, but it played only at youth and amateur level, being all the time in the shadow of the new football club of
Salonta. In 2009 Vizer gave up
Liberty and the senior team was moved to
Pomezeu. In 2013 the football academy was also dissolved and the people has begun to turn its face again to the old
Olimpia, thing that gave a refresh to the club which promoted back to
Liga IV at the end of 2012–13
Liga V season and also moved back to its original home,
Stadionul Municipal, after 9 years on Stadionul Olimpia, a stadium without stands and a bad pitch. The club's main objective is the growth of young players and the discovery of new talents. ==Stadium==